Thursday, January 30, 2014

Great Zimbabwe: Legacy of Pre-Colonial Africa

Land rich in
mineral resources, from gold, copper, and iron. Geographically landlocked, it
has mountains ranges in the east, and could cradle life with the Zambezi River
in the northeast with the famous Victoria Falls stands beautifully as one of
the tallest falls in the world. It is also full of wildlife with elephants,
rhinos, and other big animals roaming its lands. This is the country of
Zimbabwe. Today, Zimbabwe faced dire economic challenges. In the past, it was
once home of the prosperous center of the gold trade. A city where the name of
the country was derived, the city of Great Zimbabwe.Gold was a precious metal
that drive economies forward, advance livelihood, supports wars of kingdoms and
empires. It is a precious metal mined from few places in the Earth. Many ports
and trade centers rose because of this metal. There were Kilwa, Mogadishu,
Sofala, Timbuktu, and in Zimbabwe itself, the Great Zimbabwe. The city of Great
Zimbabwe can be found near of the center of present day Zimbabwe. Today, its
ruins shows the wealth of the history the country. Magnificent stone structure that
marveled archaeologist and visitors alike. Its deserted ruins today stands
opposite from its status almost 6 centuries ago when it was prosperous, alive,
and vibrant.The story of
Great Zimbabwe began during 400-500 CE. Shona people looking for a new home
search far and wide in the east of Africa. They needed a land where they could
raise their livestock as well as their crops. They finally found it in the
heart of modern day Zimbabwe where they would establish their new lives. The
land they choose was perfects. The grazing lands were enough to raise enough
cattle. Its soil could also grow crops. Cattle raising was the first key engine
of their growth. High social status could be achieved if a person has a lot of
cattle. Trading was only limited to ivory, cloth, and glass. Then in the 12th century.
A gold mine was located 40 km from the city. The discovery of the mines would
bringa boost to Great
Zimbabwe.The discovery of the mines
led to merchants across the Indian Ocean to flock the city to obtain the
precious metal. Arabs, Indians, and others came to trade in the city. With
wealth, the population rose from about 5,000 to 30,000. This trade generated a
lot of income to city and thus finance the development of its structures. Huge
stone structures, mostly made of granite were erected. A grand wall was build
that would be known as the Great Enclosure. Some walls divided the society of
the city itself. The king of Great Zimbabwe, his family, and his officials
would stay in what is called today as Hill Ruins. Wealthy families lived in
their own enclosures near the city. Among the most iconic structure built from
the profits from gold was a structure with cone like tower made of stone. Archaeologist
today baffles over the use of the structure. It was hypothesize that it was
either a school for the children of wealthy families or temple for worship.
Stone houses were also built within the city from these houses the name of the
city was derived. Dzimba Dza Mabwe or houses of stone became the root word of
Zimbabwe. Finally, one of the most iconic symbols of the wealth of Great
Zimbabwe was a soapstone sculpture of bird that would became a symbol in the
flag of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe bird.From 1200-mid-1400’s, Great
Zimbabwe reached its heights. The gold boom allowed the city to raise an army
and expand the borders of the city. Its armies marched up to the Zimbezi River
to the north. In the south, they reached down to the Limpopo River. To the
west, they reached as far as the Kalahari Desert. And finally, to the east, the
borders edge ended to the mountain ranges of Chimani and Iyanga.Prosperity continued until
in 1400s when it suffered a decline. Several drought passed that caused
devastation to agriculture and livestock. Crops failed. The grazing lands were
exhausted and became arid. Livestock either died of disease or hunger and
dehydration. With the failure of the food supplies, the people of Great
Zimbabwe faced famine. Many people moved and emigrated to save themselves from
the suffering. As the city weakened, it became vulnerable to invasions. It was in
1450 when another Shona Kingdom, the Rozvi, invaded the Great of Zimbabwe. Emigration
out of the city continued. Some inhabitants of the Great Zimbabwe went to the
cities of Mutapa or Torwa. By 1500, the city of Great Zimbabwe was abandoned.Afterwards, the Great
Zimbabwe existed only as ruins of once great city. Stories of it were recorded
by Europeans that would arrived in the continent, first of which were the
Portuguese. Eventually, as time progress, rediscovery of the Great Zimbabwe
became a driving force of the nationalist of Africans against their colonial
master. With the pile of ruins of Great Zimbabwe, it inspired nationalism to
many people in Africa.See also:Kilwa: Golden Port in East of AfricaSalt Through the Desert: Tuareg Salt Caravan